CRICKET: Paul Collingwood hit his ninth Test hundred to help England regain control of the must-win series finale at Queen's Park Oval. Collingwood reached the landmark in the final over before lunch on the second day, which the tourists reached on 372 for four, with England thankful in no small part to Matt Prior's counter-attack.
Two wickets in consecutive overs early this morning, including that of centurion Andrew Strauss, undermined England’s overnight position in their must-win match.
But wicketkeeper Prior, recalled after leaving the tour of the Caribbean temporarily for paternity leave, raced to a half-century from just 52 deliveries and dominated the initial part of an ongoing three-figure stand with Collingwood.
Prior profited from a willingness to drive hard outside off-stump on a sluggish surface. His two moments of discomfort — one threatening his innings, the other his health — came on 30.
Indecision at playing a short delivery from Daren Powell resulted in an aerial jab into the covers and another shorter ball from Fidel Edwards in the next over thumped into his right hip.
Particularly strong through gully and point, however, Prior attacked anything pitched up.
Collingwood, meanwhile, rotated the strike with singles to reach his third century of the winter from 208 balls.
Captain Strauss was among the two quick batsmen to fall on a calamitous resumption for England.
Strauss added only three to his overnight score and Owais Shah, returning to the crease after cramp forced him to retire hurt on the first afternoon, also departed, both to errors of judgement.
Strauss fell for 142 when he shuffled to the off side to an attempt a glance off his pads, missed and lost his leg stump to Fidel Edwards. Then Shah, who settled back in by straight-driving his second ball for four off Lionel Baker, perished attempting a quick single from the next delivery.
He called after nudging off his hip to midwicket and was left short of his ground at the non-striker’s end as substitute Dwayne Bravo, on for the injured Shivnarine Chanderpaul, swivelled and produced a direct hit.
West Indies, needing to avoid defeat to seal a first series success in five years, took the second new ball first thing this morning, having opted to delay it through 10 overs yesterday evening.